Buona Terra

The buzz: Housed in Chateau Tcc, a refurbished colonial house a few doors down from Song of India and cocktail bar Néktar, this new establishment offers up contemporary Northern Italian fare.

The vibe: The entrance is flanked on both sides by an imposing glass display of bottles from the restaurant’s wine collection, leading to an intimate, sophisticated space that’s long and narrow. The muted color scheme is punctuated with bright art pieces and the main dining area seats just 24 people, while the private dining room is for six.

The food: Chef Denis Lucchi serves rich yet restrained dishes like crispy asparagus dumpling with Robiola ($26) and oxtail tortelli with potato cream ($28), which are available à la carte or as part of a seven-course degustation menu ($138; supplement from $80 for wine pairing options). He’s also a fan of the sous vide cooking method and implements it in offerings such as cuttlefish “tagliatelle” with celery and almond ($20) and pistachio-crusted lamb loin ($48).

The drinks: Affable sommelier Gabriele Rizzardi works closely with Lucchi to provide wine pairings for each item on the menu from a curated list of about 150 wine labels imported from Italy (from $16/glass, $72/bottle). The selection is arranged by type and then region, so you’ll find sips such as Prosecco from Veneto and Labrusco from Emilia-Romagna; there’s also an Enomatic machine so you can order tasting portions and half glasses for variety.

Why you’ll be back: For not-too-heavy Italian creations served up in a charming space.


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